Fountain-brush.



J. J, HARDIN.

FOUNTAIN BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED JANZS. 1912.

1,253,@3f3@ Patented Jan. 8,1918.

K s m-- 9 ATTORNEY.

s attains oriaroia vmotions J. HARDIN, or OAK PARK, ILLIIIoIs, ASSIGNOBTO MONARCI-I TOOL & MACHIN- na COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION or ILLInoIs.

FOUNTAIN-BRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, rare.

To all whom it may concern V Be it known that I, JACQUES J. HARDIN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Oak Park, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fountain- Brushes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to fountain brushes. Its principal object is toprovide a simple, cheap, durable and effective form of device by which aliquid may be continuously sup.- plied as desired upon the brush properfrom a self-contained reservoir. A. specific object is to improve,simplify and render more effective the brush holding means in fountainbrushes, and to improve the flow of liquid upon the brush. A furtherobject is to provide means for easily charging the receptacle. Further.objects and advantages will appear hereinafter. y In the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, I have. illustrated apreferred form and several modified forms of one type of brush deviceembodying these improvements. In these drawings Figure 1 is a medialvertical section lengthwise of the complete device in a simple form;Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the end portion of Fig. 1 showing thespring valve thereof somewhat extended; Fi 3 is an enlarged view showinga modified form of connection between the brush proper and the liquidreceptacle, and also showing additional brush holding means; Fig. 4 is abroken longitudinal view, largely in section, showing piston means forrefilling the receptacle; and Fig. 5 is an en larged sectional view ofthe end portion of the preferred construction and arrange: ment of partsin the specific type of brush device shown.

In all of the figures the receptacle lO may be of metal, glass, fiber,composition, orof any other suitable material. As in the formillustrated, the device is intended as a marking brush or one forapplying any suitable liquid, such as paint, oil, medicaments, etc., inthe manner of an ordinarypaint brush; the hollow cylindrical bodyportion or receptacle 10 is relatively'long and narrow so as to bereadily. graspable by the hand. A readily removable cap 11, for cleaningand refilling purposes, is held fricztionally in one end, as in Fig.1,.or, where a piston is employed, preferably a screw threaded cap 12,as in Fig. 4:, convenient for assembling or cleaning the device, isemployed. The brush proper 14:, in the form illustrated, is of bristlesor the like,

and is preferably substantially circular in preferably all the wayaround the circumference or periphery of the outermost turn or turnsthereof, as at the annular line 17, thus making a tight joint betweenthe end piece 16 and the spring. The. smaller or innermost end of thespring 15 is secured upon the brush proper 14:, preferably by simplywinding the same tightly thereon for several turns of the spring, suchwinding being sufficient to hold the brush in the desired position.Ordinarily, the brush proper 14. should first be wound with cord orwire, as 18, so that it may be more easily handled when applying thespring 15 thereto, as well as to insure the desired security of thebristles. A cap 20 frictionally held on the end piece 16 maintains thebrush proper from drying out objectionably as well as providing thefeature of cleanliness to the brush proper and to other objects when theentire device is laid away.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the spring 15 as secured upon the annular brushholding device or end piece 22, which is shown as screw threaded intothe container or receptacle 10 for ready removability, while in theother figures the end piece 16 is simply frictionally held by a tightfit at the joint 23. i

It will be noted that the turns of the spring 15 are normally tightlyone upon the other; that there is a tight joint between the spring 15and the surrounding container intermediate the brush proper 1eandthe areat the annular line 17, and also a tight joint being a Wall throughwhich the liquid may not flow when in the normal relative positionillustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.' When,

however, pressure is applied to the end of the brush proper 14, as whenit is desired to do painting or to apply to a surface the contents ofthe container 10, the brush proper 14 is forced inward, that is, fartherinto the body of the receptacle 10, the turns of the spring l5therebybecoming separated, as shown in .Figs. 2 and 5, whereby the liquid mayflow between these turns and upon the brush proper. It will be notedthat the brush proper is loosely positioned in the container 10, or'itsend portion 16 or 22,'being spaced from the walls thereof at the open"end, as at 17; and it will also be observed that the brush is spacedfrom or is in loose relation to the turns of the spring 15 except at theinnermost end thereof. The liquid in the container 10 may thereforereadily flow outward upon the exposed portion of the brush proper 1a andbe available for application.- Inusing the device it will naturally bein a more or less upright position and the liquid will flow bygravitation outward upon the brush as required, the pressure of thebrush upon the surface being painted or otherwise treated opening thevalve and permitting the flow to take place. As soon as the pressure ofapplication is removed the spring 15 returns to its closed or normalposition, stopping the flow.

In Fig. 3 I have'illustratedan auxiliary helical spring 25 secured as at26 to the end piece 22 and taperin forward to the turns at 27, whichturns bind more tightly the brush proper 14; and maintain the bristlesor brush elements thereof against objectionable spreading when it isdesired to have the end of the brush relatively small, as formarlringlettersupon boxes or for similar uses. The auxiliary spring 27has the additional function of rendering the brush 14: more stifl sothat the application of pressure at the end thereof will more readilycommunicate' to the spring 15 the desired valveopening pressure; and ithas the further function of providing a feeding device or holder for theliquid flowing outupon the periphery of the brush" 14 at that portionencompassed by the spring 25. In practice the liquid is maintained bythe spring 25 in'a readily'available quantity just'above the operatingend. portion of the brush proper 14, and when the device is in operationthe inward movement" ofthe'brush let causes the turns of the spring 25to come closer together squeezing out some of the liquid containedthereamong and which then flows upon .the exposed portion of the brushproper. At the same 'timeadditional liquid ffows out of the container102 upon .the

.spring .25 and when the operating: pressure is removed (which pressureis intermittent as stroke upon stroke is made) the spring 25 eXpandslongitudinally and the new supply of liquid is-held about its turnswithout running freely upon the brush 1%. The turns o'fthe spring 25 arepreferably somewhat closer together near the smaller end thereof forminga sort of pocket for the liquid. V V

In Fig. 4: a piston 28 on the rod 29 having a finger piece, such astheeye 30,-enables the operator to recharge the device by merely insertingthe brush end thereof into a can containing the liquid and drawing thepiston 28 toward the cap 12, the spring 15 giving wayunder the suctionpressure and modate slidingly the sleeve ortube 35 hav- 'ing its innerend enlarged as at 37 to prevent retraction of the tube. As'the brush14: wearsaway, or to provide-alarger or smallerexposed portion of thebrush proper according to the work 111 hand, the tube 35 .may be movedas desired.

It maintains the bristles from spreading, stiffens the brush proper. inits longitudinal direction, and also serves to control the liquid flowupon the operative end of thebrush. The brush 14. is loosely movableinward and outward in thetube 35, but as the bristles are held fairlyclosely together, the liquid among the bristles is held by capillary attraction so that it does not ooze out upon the exposed end of the brushproper except as drawn there by use.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of these improvements,and have shown certain modifications of the device as a whole, theinvention'is not limited to what is specifically illustrated anddescribed, and reference should. be had to the appended claims todetermine what I contemplate as being included in the improvementsherein set forth. A

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubularreceptacle for a liquid, a brush having one end thereof extendingloosely into said receptacle, a coiled spring having a plurality ofturns surrounding the brush within the'receptacle, therturns of thespring being normally tightly against each other, said springbeingsecured to the-brush and also in relatively fixed relation with thereceptacle whereby the spring constitutes a tight wall between thehollow interior of the receptacle and the portion of the brushsurroundedby it-,. the.arrangenientbeing-such that when the brush ismoved farther into the receptacle the turns of the spring becomeseparated and a liquid in the receptacle will flow between the turns ofthe spring upon the brush.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubeopen at one end, a brush extending loosely into the tube, and a coiledspring having the turns thereof lying closely one upon the other andsurrounding portions of the brush within the tube, said coiled springbeing secured upon the brush within the tube and being also se cured inrelatively fixed relation to the walls of the tube whereby the springconstitutes normally a wall intermediate the hollow interior of the tubeand the peripheral portion of the brush, the arrangement being such thatpressure upon the outer portion of the brush, as in use, will cause theturns of the spring to separate from each other while the pressurelasts.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a tubularreceptacle open at one end and adapted to contain a liquid, a brushhaving an end thereof extending loosely into the receptacle at the openend thereof, a coiled helical spring having its turns normally againsteach other and positioned in the open end portion of the receptacle andsurrounding a portion of the brush, the larger end of said spring beingin tight relation to the receptacle walls near the open end thereof, thesmaller end of said spring being in tight relation with the brushfarther within the receptacle, the arrangement being such that bypressing upon the brush, as in use, the turns of the spring becomeseparated, while the pressure lasts, whereby the liquid in thereceptacle may flow upon the brush.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubeopen at one end, a brush loosely extending into the tube, and a coiledspring having the turns thereof lying closely one upon the other andsurrounding portions of the brush within the tube, said coiled springbeing in relatively fixed relation to the tube at one portion of thespring, and being in such relation to said brush at a portion of thespring spaced from said relatively fixed portion that pressure upon thebrush is communicated to the spring, the spring normally constituting awall intermediate the hollow interior of the tube and the peripheralporti on of the brush surrounded by the spring, the arrangement beingsuch that pressure upon the outer portion of the brush, as in use, willcause the turns of the spring to separate from each other while thepressure lasts.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tubularreceptacle having an opening in an end thereof and adapted to contain aliquid, an end piece adapted to engage said receptacle about saidopening whereby said end piece is readily attachable to and removablefrom said receptacle, said end piece having an opening whereby abrushmay project into said end piece, a brush so projected into the device, acoiled spring surrounding a portion of the brush and in substantiallytight relation to said end piece at a portion of the spring, the turnsof said spring normally constituting a wall between the hollow interiorof the receptacle and the brush surrounded by the spring, said brushbeing in such relation to said spring that when pressure is applied uponthe exposed portion of the brush, as in use, the turns of the springseparate from each other whereby a liquid in the receptacle may flowupon the brush.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of areceptacle for a liquid, a brush carried thereby and projectingtherefrom, and valve means comprising a coiled spring intermediate thehollow interior of the receptacle and the brush, the turns of the springbeing normally close together to constitute a wall through which thefluid may not pass when the brush is not in use.

7. In combination, a brush, an annular spring support looselysurrounding said brush, a coiled spring surrounding a portion of thebrush, the turns of said spring constituting a valve and being securedto said support and also to the brush, and means on said support forsecuring same upon a receptacle for a liquid.

8. In combination, a brush, an annular support loosely surrounding saidbrush, a coiled spring surrounding a portion of the brush, said springbeing secured to said support and also to the brush, the turns of saidspring lying closely one upon another and together with said supportconstituting a tight wall surrounding a portion of the brush, and meanson said support for SECIII- ing same upon a receptacle for a liquid.

JACQUES J. HAIt-DIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1). U.

